Manufacturers miss out

Britain’s manufacturing sector was noticeable by its absence in the list of successful Millennium Products announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday (Thursday). Of the 200 winners selected from the first round of 1,000 entries, just five came from manufacturing. The biggest winners came from health and life sciences, which made up a fifth of […]

Britain’s manufacturing sector was noticeable by its absence in the list of successful Millennium Products announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday (Thursday).

Of the 200 winners selected from the first round of 1,000 entries, just five came from manufacturing.

The biggest winners came from health and life sciences, which made up a fifth of the total Millennium Products awarded. Computer and IT products accounted for 11%, followed by buildings and transport products, which each took 10%.

Among the more high-profile winners were the Eurostar train, Ford’s Ka and Puma vehicles and the Dyson Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner.

It was not all gloom for manufacturing, however. Engineering companies featured widely across the 16 product sectors which ranged from chemicals to leisure and lifestyle.

The Gloucestershire-based engineering group Renishaw had the highest number of successful products, with six of its 11 entries being selected.

Launched by Blair last September, the Millennium Products initiative aims to identify, encourage and promote innovative products and services which show how well Britain is competing at home and abroad.

Winning products will be able to carry a special Millennium Products marque and will go on display in the Millennium Dome.